Tuesday, November 30, 2010

'Getting a new belt' took on a whole new meaning this weekend...when I went to watch Ryder at his karate club. It was testing time...and all those who passed got a new belt!

How fun to watch him and his four and five-year-old friends do the drill! And when it was all over...Ryder was sporting a new belt and we all went to DQ for a treat. I'm sure his skills will come in handy on the farm...since those calves get frisky at times. I don't think the white suit will get much use around the farmyard though!

Monday, November 29, 2010

During our cold spell last past week...we had a lot of low-lying cloud in the mornings.

Though there were blue patches and sunshine up above...

...the path ahead was obscured by clouds many mornings.

I was thinking once again what a good reminder it was to 'lift up my eyes unto the hills...from whence comes my help'.

We really have no idea what lies ahead for any of us...in the journey of life. We can not see what lies around the bend...tomorrow...or even today!

I'm off to visit an old friend today...one who I have not seen in years. She was recently diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease...not a diagnosis we would wish on anyone. Another friend is undergoing chemotherapy this week...her second bout with cancer. And then there is the friend who has been on kidney dialysis for over a year...he is patiently waiting for a donor. It looks like his wife may just be a match...and early in the new year they could be going into surgery together. None of them saw it coming.

There are no guarantees in life...but we have this moment today. Let's make the most of it!

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Rosedale...a picturesque little farming community with a nice name. It happens to be where we once lived...where our children spent their early years and attended school. It had one general store in those days...a service station and one restaurant, called Lee's. We ate at Lee's with our family a few times...the last time being in the middle of a winter blizzard when our power went off and the water supply to our house froze. We went of necessity that day...some twenty-five years ago. Meanwhile we moved to our present location, and though Rosedale is not far away...we would never think of it as a dining destination.

I drove through Rosedale not long ago...and realized that Lee's was still in business, looking virtually unchanged. I wondered if it was still the same inside...with it's somewhat sloping floors and all.

We got a flyer in our mailbox several weeks ago...a photocopy of a handwritten menu from Lee's Restaurant. Most flyers don't get a second glance at our place...but 'handwritten' caught my attention. I actually read the menu...and had a hankering for Chinese food...and decided we might just go back to our old haunt and check it out. We did just that last night.

It was rather like stepping back in time. I'm sure the floors are still sloping...but as long as you don't spill...it won't bother you!

It was clean, cozy and the perfect place to be on a chilly winter evening.

There's nothing like wonton soup to warm you through and through....followed by dinner for four.

We found some friends to join us for our dining adventure...friends who once lived in the same community and frequented the same diner with their family back in the day. So we had a good time reminiscing...

...and enjoying a little blast from the past. And guess what...we plan to return...one day soon.

Though we celebrated Thanksgiving here some time ago...I would just like to wish all my American family and friends a most wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving Day! My thoughts are with you...

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

As a cold Arctic front pushed through the valley yesterday...the winds howled and the temperatures plummeted. Everyone looked for an excuse to stay indoors...where it was warm and cozy and the coffee was brewing. Or so I thought.

I looked out the kitchen window...and couldn't believe my eyes. There were sport hunters out in our field...not of necessity but by choice. Seemingly oblivious to the cold...they crouched...they shot...they gathered the game.

I have no idea who these die-hard hunting enthusiasts are...but we have granted permission to several parties to hunt on our property. The flocks of geese and ducks have taken a liking to our fields...and we are hoping a little hunting now and again will cause them to take up residence elsewhere. Though a flock of waterfowl around a pond look quite lovely...they cause a lot of damage to our crops...and so we like to discourage them from putting down roots.

As I did my shooting with my Canon...from the comfort of my kitchen...I had to wonder what kind of dedication it must take to go hunting 'just for fun' on a day like yesterday!

Monday, November 22, 2010

Though the first day of winter is officially a whole month away...in reality, winter has arrived in our part of the world. Coffee, mocha and hot chocolate are the order of the day. We happen to have a 'hot beverage' machine over the barn...which is seeing a lot of use these days. I hear it makes a mean mocha...but I have yet to check out the barnyard coffee shop (after two years in business).

Tim Horton's has a new special...just in time for the season. It looks like everyone...and their dog...are checking it out.

I watched from inside while the dog placed an order at the drive-through wicket. Back seat drivers deserve hot chocolate as well!

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The power went out the other night...in the first windstorm of the season. What's a person to do? We decided it was as good a time as any to unwrap our new Monopoly game...and play the modern 'all-Canadian' version of the age-old favorite. We discovered that it took one lantern...one large pillar candle...and two flashlights on demand...to shed enough light on the subject. How did they do it...back in the day?

Our family tradition was to buy a new board game every Christmas...and for the most part...we have kept it up. This year we decided to purchase the new Canadian Monopoly game...and because of the storm and all...it got unpacked a little before Christmas!

We soon figured out this was not the 'same ole' game we were accustomed to...and we played with one flashlight illuminating the rule book. Inflation has definitely left a mark on this game! Where we once 'Passed Go' and collected $200...we now Pass Go and collect $2M. The most expensive property on the original board was Boardwalk @ $400. One now needs very deep pockets to play the game...with properties ranging from $600K all the way up to $4M.

Here's the fun part...we are on the board! Where you were accustomed to seeing Tennesee Avenue on the orange properties...you will now find Chilliwack....adjacent to Kawartha Lakes and Montreal. That's my fair city! And the mountain peak you see featured on our 'square' is none other than Mt. Cheam...the view I see daily from my front porch.

As you may or may not recall...Hasbro had a contest earlier this year, where we could vote for our favorite city...one that we would like to see on their new Monopoly game. Oh yes...we are a loyal and patriotic bunch over here...and we like our city just fine. And since I encouraged you all to join me in voting for my hometown ...I would just like to thank those of you who helped put Chilliwack on the new Monopoly: Canada Edition. Though you may never have heard of Chilliwack...we managed to get more votes than Vancouver, Ottawa, Toronto and Kelowna. I like that!

I must admit I was more than a little disappointed when I opened the box to discover there was no money! What fun would it be to play the game without real, hard cash?

We soon discovered that it was much simpler to swipe a card...a lesson that I had learned long ago in real life. After about an hour of play in the semi-dark...the game ended with one of us having a balance of zero...and nothing left to mortgage.

What can I say? If you need a new board game for the season...and you are interested in dabbling in the real estate market...and prefer to spend someone else's money to spending your own...it's a good game for you! And you may just learn a little about Canada while you play.

We know him quite well from our trips to The Bookman...our local bookstore. He keeps watch over the till...or prowls around the stacks of books...and is a favorite of the kids. And now he is the poster cat for Abebooks.com...featured as the top bookstore cat in North America. I just happened to have a picture of Nietzsche in my files...and so I thought I'd share his new found fame with all of you.

And then there is the cat that lounges around at one of my favorite garden shops...and can be found napping next to the catnip...or is that basil?

And the door greeter over at 'Ship Happens' is also a feline. Who knew...that cats are good for business?

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Skipping. It was what we did at recess...or lunch hour...on the playground. We chanted skipping songs...and jumped to our hearts' delight. And when we reached the end of the rhyme...we went into a skipping frenzy called 'pepper'. That was the competitive part of the game...how long could you maintain that speed? And then there were those who were quite good at skipping 'double dutch'...where one would jump two ropes while they were being turned simultaneously...like an egg beater. I can't say I ever mastered that! The skipping ropes of my memory were actually made of rope. And we wore dresses to skip...since we we were required to wear dresses to school back in the day. Our hair flew free and our dresses got tangled in the rope on occasion. It was all part of the game.

But skipping is a thing of the past, right? Not so!

Skipping is serious sport these days. And when they head off for a day of skipping...

...they are required to present themselves in team gear...and with hair in French braids. And so it was that I rolled out of bed at the crack of dawn on Saturday...to see if I still knew how to do French braids. Soon Emme and her team mates were off to a competitive jump rope competition...with participating teams from our province and Washington State.

Last time I showed up when the skipping was all but done. This time, I arrived bright and early...and got in on the action.

I won't bother posting a whole lot of photos of the actual skipping...since the rope, feet and hands are all a blur! She is good...she is fast. Let's just say...this is not how Grammy skipped!

As for the ropes...they are not made of sisal or plastic...but are stainless steel metal cables...capable of 5-6 rotations per second. Oh...and they cause welts on bare legs.

I knew about 'double dutch'...but 'double under' was all new to me...where the participant jumps up a bit higher than usual while swinging the rope twice under her feet. It all happens so quickly...it took me awhile to figure out the rope was going around twice for every jump.

Emme and her team did well...and she came home with a fistful of ribbons. Next weekend they are off to another skipping event...in Washington State.

I was surprised to learn that Canada has 41 jump rope teams...with about 1400 athletes...and accounts for about 10% of the world-wide jump rope community. No...skipping is not a thing of the past!

1. Empty both cake mixes into large mixing bowl.
2. Combine eggs and oil; add water to make 3 cups.
3. Add liquids to cake mix and beat on low until combined; then beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
4. Divide batter equally into six individual bowls.
5. Add gel coloring to each to create your rainbow of colours...purple, blue, green, yellow, orange and red.
6. Prepare two 9-inch round pans...line bottoms with parchment paper and spray pans with Pam. Now for the fun part!
7. In first pan, drop half the purple batter into the center. Carefully add half the blue batter right on top of the purple...followed by green, yellow, orange and ending with red. Do not stir at all.
8. In the second pan, use remaining batter in the reverse order...beginning with red.
9. Bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in centre comes clean.
10. Cool completely before removing from pans.
11. Frost when cool.

1. Combine pudding mix with milk and beat for one minute.
2. Fold in whipped topping mix.
3. Cut top off one of the layer cakes to level and place on cake plate.
4. Spread with a generous amount of the frosting; top with second layer.
5. Frost top and sides of cake. Refrigerate until serving.

Welcome here...so glad you stopped by.

Let’s have a cup of coffee together and chat for awhile...mostly about family, friends, food, farming, faith and a few of my favorite pastimes...did I mention travelling? Life itself is a journey...may you find some encouragement here as I share bits and pieces along the way.

I hope you enjoy your visit and welcome your thoughts.

Bless the Lord, O my soul;And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Psalm 103:1

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I live with my husband on a dairy farm in the beautiful Fraser Valley of British Columbia. We enjoy having our grown children and our delightful grands living nearby. I usually have a project or two on the go and the coffee's always on!